A 'Beyond-Lightbulbs-Moment: CoE Synod to debate environment

Source: Operation Noah

The General Synod meeting of the Church of England will be debating a motion on climate change and the environment next Wednesday, 12 February 2014. The motion challenges the Church to take urgent action on climate change in all areas, including political pressure, disinvestment / reinvestment, adaptation, consumption, poverty and international development.

Members of General Synod have signed a number of statements on climate change in the past, including Operation Noah's 'Ash Wednesday Declaration', and taken part in the 'Shrinking the Footprint project.

Additionally church groupings have published such materials as Sharing God's Planet and the Church of England Report, Church and Earth: 2009 - 2016 The Church of England's Seven-Year Plan on Climate Change and the Environment' which was not considered by General Synod, but was endorsed by a number of bishops.

Canon Giles Goddard, who will present the General Synod motion, writes: "The intention of the motion is very simple - it's to get the different parts of the Church of England facing in roughly the same direction, so that we can speak more clearly on the complex range of issues which climate change involves. We are proposing to strengthen and upgrade the existing 'Shrinking the Footprint' committee so that it has more weight and is more able to facilitate and encourage the Church of England, at all levels from congregation to bishops, to be active in this area. My hope is that this motion will enable and encourage the Church of England to be a clearer voice on climate change; that we will go beyond changing light bulbs and speak and act prophetically to a world that has lost its way."

Christian Ecology Link has signed a Statement to the General Synod which reflects those of a number of other organisations, asking for support for the motion, and for people to contact their General Synod representative on this matter.

Some of CEL's members will be taking part by contributing social media on Twitter, Facebook and CEL's website.

Ruth Jarman, trustee of CEL said: "Bold green words have been spoken. Now, perhaps, it is time for action with an urgency and scale commensurate with the enormous risk that climate change poses to the next generation and to God’s creation."

Columban JPIC (Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation) is a Catholic group which has welcomed the General Synod debate on climate change and the environment. Ellen Teague reflected that "Columban JPIC is delighted to see the Church of England taking the issue of Climate Change so seriously and developing a strategy for church people to play their part in tackling it.

For more information see:

Ash Wednesday Declaration www.operationnoah.org/ash-wednesday-declaration

Shrinking the Footprint www.churchcare.co.uk/shrinking-the-footprint

Sharing God's Planet (A book, 2005) www.churchofengland.org/media/1258771/gs1558.pdf

Church and Earth: 2009 - 2016 The Church of England's Seven-Year Plan on Climate Change and the Environment www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2009/11/pr10009.aspx

Joint Statement from CEL and other organisations www.greenchristian.org.uk/archives/6847

Christian Ecology Link www.greenchristian.org.uk